Flange and connection for tubular heating elements



June 1932- J. c. MARTIN, JR

FLANGE AND CONNECTTON FOR TUBULAR HEATING ELEMENTS Filec} June 24, 1951 '4 Sheets-Sheet l om 00M 0ooooooooo0o0on \oooooooouunio l l \ooooeooooQoio jIG. .l.

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FOR TUBULAR HEATTNG ELEMENTS FLANGE AND CONNECTION Filed June 24, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet Inner: for:

June 14, 1932. M JR 1,862,796

FLANGE AND CONNECTION FOR TUBULAR nEATING ELEMENTS Filed June 24, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 14, 1932. j c MART|N,,JR 1,862,796

FLANGE AND CONNECTION FOR TUBULAR HEATING ELEMENTS Filed June 24. 19:51 T 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES JESSE C. MARTIN, JR., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FLANGE AND CONNECTION FOR Application filed June 24,

The hereinafter described invention relates primarily to the attachment of tubular water heating elements as positioned between the firebox sheets of a locomotive boiler for the purpose of circulating water and generating steam, although its application may well be extended to the plated surfaces of other types of boilers and pressure holding vessels for establishing fluid communication between the respective surfaces thereof.

My invention contemplates among its objects the formation of flanges on the ends of tubular heated water carrying elements for attachment to the sheets of a locomotive firebox in such mannerthat the metal walls of the tube adjacent its end will not be subjected to the amount of heating and working as at present required to form the flange integral with the tube and which unduly upsets the metal structure, reduces its resistant qualities, and causes subsequent failure in service in assimilating the stresses set up by the heat of combustion in the firebox of the locomotive boiler by providing a flange which in its construction will require only a comparatively sli ht deformation of the metal at the tube and without impairing its original metal characteristics and sustaining ability, and which is distinguished from a flange formed with a full or continuous face by having a plurality of faces with a separation therebetween so established to relieve the stretching of the metal now required on the formation of a full face flan e, the separation so formed being filled with t e metal of the firebox sheet while the abuttin edges of the sheet and flanges are welde together and the flange faces staybolted in accordance with State and Federal rules and regulations.

One of the objects of my invention is to make a connection for the ends of tubular elements as attached by welding and staybolting to the sheets of locomotive fireboxes so that a greater portion of the firebox sheets will function in forming the juncture of the elements to the sheets than at present, that is, to make the opening formed in the firebox sheet to receive the flange so that a part of the surface around the opening will be utilized 9 as a means of assisting me in providing a TUBULAR HEATING ELEMENTS 1931. Serial No. 546,647.

flange with a divided face or a split flange, so to speak, which will not so excessively work the metal of the tubular end in its formation and which will give to the tubular elements through the increased cfliciency of their flanged terminal connections greater life and lower maintenance cost in service in satisfying the strains of expansion and contraction encountered.

Another object of my invention is to split a tubular member at its ends and then to turn back the metal between the splits in such manner as to form an attaching flange, thereby avoiding unduly heating and drawing the metal at the tube end as when a full flange is formed or drawn thereon, and furthermore in applying the flange of my invention so formed to utilize a part of the metal of the firebox sheet to which the edges of my flange are welded to fill the spaces between the splits, thereby retaining the character of the metal structure of the tube at its connecting ends and eflectually preventing cracking and failure of the tubular elements at these vital points when subjected to the heat of combustion.

A further object of my invention is to provide flanges on the ends of tubular heated ele ments such as used in the fireboxes of locomotive boilers which can be formed at a lesser cost than the flanges as now fashioned on such elements and which will reduce the cost of terminally connecting the elements to the firebox sheets, in fact to provide a flange connecting structure which will through its new and novel conformation permit the use of a materially smaller size of flange for the purpose intended than that at present employed,

Fig. I is a sectional elevation of the the 7 box of a locomotive boiler showing tubular elements having flanges as formed and joined to the side sheets and crown sheets of the firebox in accordance with the improvements of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a half sectional end elevation taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, looking toward the door sheet of the firebox, whileFig. 3 is a half sectional end elevation taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1, looking toward the flue sheet of the firebox.

Fig. 4 shows a portion of the firebox sheet and the shape of the opening as initially cut in the sheet to receive the flanged end of my construction, the opening being prepared to receive the flanged end as formed on an elongated tube.

'Fig. 5 shows the opening of Fi 4 after the metal of the sheet as utilized For filling in the spaces as formed at the turned-over ends of my flanges are trimmed and bent up to fill respective spaces as formed at the end of the tube by my improved flange.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, Fig. 5, while Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line'77, Fig. 5, both views being taken to further show the bent-up ends of the late which are to fill in at the ends of my' ange.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of improved flange as formed on an elongated tube of size adapted'to fit the trimmed opening in the firebox sheet as shown by Fig. 5, the elongated tube being shown in section.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the tube and flange of Fig. 8 showing the depression at the end of the tube as formed in making my improved flange and which depressions are filled in by the bent-up ends of the firebox sheet as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and'7.

Fig. 10 is a broken perspective view of my improved flangeas formed on an elongated tube, the tube being butt welded in position in the opening as prepared in the firebox sheet to receive it and staybolted through the flat sides of the flange to accord with the stipulated practices of State and Federal authorities.

Fig. 11 illustrates another form of my invention adapted to suit a tube of circular cross-section. The view shows the opening as initially cut in the firebox sheet, a portion of which is shown.

Fig. 12 shows the opening of Fig. 11 as trimmed to receive my flanged end, the inner points of the opening being shaped and bent outwardly to accord with the depressions as made at the end of the tube during theformation of my improved flange thereon.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation taken on line 1313, Fig. 12, to show clearly how the inner points of the opening of Fig. 12'are bent outwardly.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of my flan e as formed on the circular tube of size to t the opening in the firebox sheet as shown in Fig. 12, the tube being in section.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a portion of the circular tube end of Fig. 14 with my im roved flange as formed thereon.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the end of a tube of circular cross-section showing how the spaces between the turned-over ends of the tube as made in the formation of my flange have been filled in by the outwardly In the drawings Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive,

which show the elongated tube form of invention, numeral 10 denotes the elongated tube itself upon the ends of which are fashioned the new and novel flanges of my invention with divided face portions 11 and 12 and depressed portions or separations between the flange faces as denoted at 13 and 14. As shown in the view of Fig. 4, I initially cut an opening in the firebox sheet, the contour of which is denoted by numeral15, so as to receive the divided flangeportions 11 and 12, and the depressed portions 13 and 14, the portions of the firebox sheet around the opening 15 which I utilize to fit the depressed portions 13 and 14 being denoted by numerals 16 and 17 respectively. Numerals 16a and 17a of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show how the portions 16 and 17 around the opening 15 are trimmed and bent outwardly to fit the depressed separations 13 and 14 between the flange faces 11 and 12, the, edges of the flange faces and depressed separations all being arranged for butt welding to the respective edges of the opening 15 to which they have been fitted for this purpose and the flange faces 11 and 12 being staybolted as denoted at 18. This work of welding and staybolting is carried out in conformity with the existing rules and regulations prescribed by State and Federal authorities.

In the formation of my improved flange and as descriptive of at least one way in which I now form it, I split, the end of the tubular element 10, preferably longitudinally therewith, and so as to make the flange faces 11 and 12 when turned over symmetrical and 1n as many places as desired to suit the particular cross-section of the tubular'element employed, for example, the elongated tube 10 of Figs. '1 to 10 is split in two places opposite each other wlnle the circular tube of Figs. 11 to 16 is cut in four laces diametrical- 1y opposite from each at er. These splits at the tube ends may be made in any practical manner best suited to working the metal of the tube 4 my purpose being to prov1de a separation between flange faces 11 and 12 in the least expensive manner so that I may be enabled to turn over'the ends of the tube to form the flange faces 11 and 12 with a minimum of heating and forming, which it is one of the most important features and advantages of my invention to effect in savmg the metal ends from distortion through excessive drawing which now causes the1r failure in service.

In the illustrative showing of m invention Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, I have s own its application to a welded and staybolted elongated tubular element made of plate of like character as the plate to which it is attached, and in Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive as applied to a continuous walled tube or element of circular cross-section so as to bring out its principles under different conditions of tubular construction.

In Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive the tubular element of circular cross-section is denoted vby numeral 10a, and the same has been split at its end four times into substantially equal sections and the sections between the splits turned over to form four like and symmetrically arranged flange faces 20, 21, 22 and 23 and depressions 24, 25, 26 and 27 between the flange faces.

In similar manner as heretofore described and as shown in Fig. 11, the firebox sheet is initially prepared with my particularly contoured opening 28 having points 29, 30, 31 and 32, which points as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 are prepared by fitting and bending outwardly as shown at 29a, 30a, 31a and 32a so that they fill the depressions 24, 25, 26 and 27 respectively in such manner as to be butt welded and the flange faces 20, 21, 22 and 23- staybolted as shown by numeral 18 to meet the established State and Federal rules and regulations for welding and staybolting in the area of the firebox sheets. i

In Fig. 17 a circular cross-section tubular element 10?) has been split in a single place and the metal of the element end turned over to form a flange 20?) with a single depression 24?), the metal of the firebox sheet being bent as shown at 29?) so as to fill the depression 24b and the edges of the flange and firebox sheet joined together by welding.

However, in certain applications of my invention to the lowerfluid pressure services it may not be necessary in meeting the safety rules and" regulations as set out to staybolt the flanged portions asshown in the illustra- :tive views herewith, in which case the strength of the weld is relied upon in making the juncture.

elongated shape of tubular element 10, I am enab ed to afford a special feature and advantage in that the o ening 15 as cut in the firebox sheet is muc smaller than an opening which would be required to accommodate a flange made with a full or uninterrupted face because I eliminate the end flange faces on the tube and provide only the side flange faces 11. and 12 between the depressions 13 and 14. This effects a very substantial and desirable constructional feature and advantage through avoidance of cutting out a great many staybolts on either end of the opening as when the full flange with end faces is employed and the final replacement of these staybolts through the face of the flange is required to be made in accordance with the established rules and regulations. I

My purpose may be said to be to provide the smallest amount of flange face possible in meeting the requirements of safety so as to avoid the expensive cost of removing and replacing staybolts.

Numerous modifications for carrying out the principles of my invention will make themselves manifest to those skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the exact showing herewith made, the scope of my invention being limited only to Y the extentof the claims as appended.

I claim: 1

1. A connection for joining a tubular heated element to the sheet of a firebox comprisin a split flange on the end of the element, an the firebox sheet having an opening With a contour shaped to fit said flange and split portion, theedges of said flange and split portion butt welded to the edges of said opening.

' 2. A connection for joining a tubular heated element to a sheet of a firebox comprising a flange with a split in its face and a depression formed thereby inward from its periphery, an opening in the firebox sheet, its edge embracing a portion of the flange and fitting the edges of said depression and a butt weld uniting said edges.

3. A connection for joining a tubular heated element to the staybolted sheet of a firebox comprising a flange with a split in its face and a depression formed thereby inward from its periphery, an opening in the firebox sheet embracing a portion of said periphery and fitting the edges of said depression, a butt weld uniting said edges, and stay bolts for joining said flange in like manner as the sheets in the firebox.

4. The method of forming a connection between a tubular element and a plated surface which consists in splitting the end of the element and turning back the metalthereof to form a flange having a separation in its face, making an opening in the plated surface to In the application of my inventi t th receive the edges of the flange and separation,

and bonding said edges to the edges of the opening by welding. 5. The method 0 forming a connection between a tubular heated element and the sheet of a firebox which consists in splitting the 7 end of the element into sections, turning over the sections to form-flange faces on the end thereof, making an opening to utilize portions of the firebox sheet residing in the opening as cut, to receive the edges of said flange and to fit the edges of said separations, and bonding the re "peetive edges together by welding.

6. The method of connecting a tubular member to a plate which comprises, forming a substantially longitudinal slit in the end of the member, bending the material at each side of the slit outwardly to produce a flange divided by a recess defined by the edges of said slit, forming an opening in the plate contoured to receive the edge of said flange and recess and butt welding the edges of said opening, flange and recess.

7. The method of connecting a tubular member to a plate which comprises forming a substantially longitudinal slit in the end of the member, bending the material at each side of theslit outwardly to produce a flange portion at each side of the slit, the edges of said portions joining in a recess defined by the edges of said slit, said edges in said recess curving from the plane of the face of the flange to merge into the surface of said member, forming an opening in the plate contoured to receive the edges of said flange and recess including a portion projecting into the opening to fill said recess in butt-welding relation, deflecting said projecting portion to agree with the curve of the recess edges, and butt Welding the edges of said flange portions and recess to the edges of said opening and projecting portion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 20th day of June, 1931.

JESSE C. MARTIN, JR. 

